Page 41 of California Dreaming

By the time she returned home, she had decided to put Mylene’s compliments out of her mind, even though there was a huge part of her that wanted to tell Arch everything. But what if he acted the way Lewis had? Or worse, what if he pretended he thought her painting was good? No, it was safer just to keep it a secret.

She raced upstairs, packed away her easel and art supplies, and made sure to clean up thoroughly in the en suite bathroom before Arch saw her.

When she finished, she ran a brush through her hair, wound it into a neat bun, and went to find him.

But he wasn’t in his usual spot in the living room. She called his name. Nothing. Maybe he’d gone for a nap, she thought, and was still asleep. She walked down the hallway in the direction of his room. But no. His door was ajar, and the bedroom was empty. She began to panic. Had he taken a fall?

Louder this time, she called his name again. But all she heard was the sound of her own blood rushing in her ears. Drat him—had he wandered off for a walk along the beach? She wouldn’t put it past him to try to manage on his own before he was ready.

Then she heard a grunt. And another.

Coming from the basement.

She rushed down the stairs, and there he was, back pressed against a leather bench, working on his upper-body exercises in the gym. He was shirtless, tanned abs and triceps rippling as he shoulder-pressed with a couple of heavy dumbbells. Watching his stern reflection change to a smile in the mirror when he noticed her, Tessa found herself swooning. She knew better, but…

He caught her eye in the mirror and held her gaze as he lifted the weights above his head.

Her mouth was dry, desire bubbling up in her, but she managed to say in as neutral a tone as possible, “Those dumbbells are too heavy for you right now.”

Arch laughed and then set the weights on either side of the bench. “I have to up my game if I’m going to be ready for an action flick.” He took a swig of mineral water. “But I made it down here all by myself, so I took it as a sign I’m getting stronger.”

“You are,” Tessa had to concede. “But that’s exactly why you shouldn’t push yourself too soon and possibly set yourself back.”

Arch shook his head as though he couldn’t believe she wasn’t throwing him a thousand compliments about his incredible physical prowess right now. “Don’t worry, I know my limits. Besides, I’m getting my cast off tomorrow. And I saved the rehab exercises for when you got back.”

The truth was, she couldn’t stop thinking about the offer he’d made that fateful night, when he’d thrown back the bedsheets and patted the space beside him.

With his half-naked body now so casually displayed, she couldn’t help wishing that she’d thrown caution to the wind and leaped right in.

Chapter Eighteen

Arch didn’t know what was more exciting—getting the cast off his leg this morning, or the surprises he had planned for Tessa later.

There was something so incredibly sexy about the way she drove as they made their way to the hospital. Maybe it was the way the breeze from the open windows ruffled her usually primly tied-back hair. Or the casual way she turned the leather wheel with the palm of her right hand.

He’d never felt so intoxicated by something so ordinary.

All he knew was that he had it bad for Tessa.

Real bad.

It helped that it was a beautiful morning for a drive. So peaceful. Right now, it felt like only he and Tessa lived in Carmel, in a bubble of pure sexual tension.

He stole another glance at her. How did she make a blue shirt and jeans look so damn good?

As if sensing his attention, Tessa gave him her bright, genuine smile and then returned her attention to the road.

“You’re going to feel like a new man with that cast off,” she said. “You’re playing it cool, but I can tell how excited you are. I imagine you were a nightmare as a kid at Christmas, up at dawn and racing downstairs to rip open your presents before anyone else was awake.”

Arch laughed. She’d hit the nail on the head. Why wait when you can do it right now? had always been his motto.

But she was wrong about where the bulk of his excitement lay. Yes, he was glad the cast was coming off… but if only he could tell her that ninety-nine percent of what he felt right now came from the simple pleasure of being beside her as she drove.

Tessa pulled up at the hospital. After she parked, she told him to stay put and got out first, coming around to his side to open the door and help him out.

Although he loved it when Tessa manhandled him, he wasn’t going to miss feeling helpless and uncoordinated with his crutches.

Together, they entered the white building, and he gave his details at reception. He was wearing a baseball cap and dark glasses, but at the mention of his name, the receptionist’s head snapped up, as if she needed to confirm it really was him. Thankfully, he wasn’t the only celebrity who’d ever been treated here. He really did owe Clint Eastwood and Doris Day a debt of gratitude for living in Carmel; people had become much more relaxed about celebrities.

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